Pupil premium and free school meals

FSM eligibility has changed and if you receive any form of Universal Credit, you should be eligible.

This means that your child will have access to free school meals in school if they wish to take them, but may also mean that the school may get additional funding (Pupil Premium) to better support your child and others. In addition, there are often other opportunities or support that becomes available to your child throughout their time in school that might otherwise not be available. It is also worth being aware that there is no way for other children to know who has access to free school meals, we simply top up your child's lunch account each day and they pay with their student card the same way that everyone else does.

Therefore we strongly encourage all parents / carers to register, even if not sure they are eligible, to check.

There are now two types of free school meal eligibility, both mean a child gets a free meal in school each day if they wish.

Targeted free school meals

Your child can get targeted free school meals if a parent/carer:

  • get Universal Credit and has a household income of £7,400 or less (excluding benefits)

In this case they may also be able to get:

Extended free school meals

If a parent/carer gets Universal Credit but have a household income of more than £7,400, they can get extended free school meals from September 2026.

What is pupil premium funding?

Pupil premium funding from the government is given to schools to help pupils reach their full potential. It’s provided for pupils who:

  • Are registered for 'targeted' free school meals
  • Have been registered for free school meals at any point in the past 6 years
  • Are, or have been, in care
  • Have parents in the armed forces

Does the child have to eat the free school meals?

No. Pupils who are registered for free school meals don’t have to eat them. If they are eligible but still wish to have packed lunches they should still register because the school will receive the funding which can support the child in other ways.

 
How to register?

If a child is not already in receipt, parents/carers need to register.  To register, please visit the website below:

https://www.kent.gov.uk/education-and-children/schools/free-school-meals